2023 was pretty tough. I lost my dad and I’m getting divorced. woowee. A lot of heavy stuff to deal with. I’m grateful that I was able to spend time with my dad and be there for him and my mom when they needed me. I’m grateful that while divorce in general is tough, my soon to be ex hubby and I are making this process as amicable as possible. We are still friends and will always be family but our lives are going in different directions. There were some good parts to 2023 too. I got a lot of crafting done and went on several trips. We were in Phoenix and Vegas in April to meet up with our Italian cousins. May saw our children graduate from college and high school. We went back to Vegas to visit with friends before my Textile tours of France (Paris, Avignon, Alsace) in August and September. Then spent my birthday in Cancun. My dad passed a few weeks after my birthday and I spent the last few months mostly in Northern CA with my mom. I went home to LA for events I had to be at but other than that, spent it with my mom.

For 2024, I plan to focus on crafting, finalizing the divorce and travelling. I want to do more domestic road trips as I didn’t get to do any in 2023. I’ve decided not to do any block of the months or Saturday samplers as I’m trying to use what I have. I bought a lot of things when in France and previously at Road to California. I want to use those things I bought. Every time I pull them out to move things around or look for things, I feel sad that I haven’t yet used any of them.

Other than those loose plans I also am going to say No more and take care of myself. At the end, those who are around are my true friends and those who are not do not deserve my love and enthusiasm and care and effort.

Always,

Melanie